Good Morning,

Hope all is well with all of you! Me and mine are fighting either the rhino or corona viruses. Hopefully just a couple of more days and we’ll be over them!

Well, this week I want to summarize the last few weeks… for the last few weeks our weekly messages covered just a single verse:

1^st Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

Hopefully you have noticed that love, true love (as defined by God) is awesome and precious. It is an action word that seeks the best of others regardless of what may come. It is innocent and deliberate, holy and honorable, though willing to be trodden down if (hopefully) it brings you closer to understanding true love yourself.

To encounter a person… better yet, God who liberally gives this love out is to be swept away in joy and thanksgiving. Just think of John Newton who wrote “Amazing Grace” after comprehending and experiencing God’s love after years of profane living…

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Grace means merciful kindness… and perhaps you’ve heard it described as undeserved love. Yes… that’s right…. You find love in grace!

Reading the Old Testament will show would how gracious God was toward mankind… from Adam and Eve right on through to Noah and his family. I mean, God knew mankind was still bent against Him even though He saved them to re-populate the earth. And then on to Abraham and his descendants, to King David and the nation Israel… time and again sparing them total annihilation despite all that rebellion and spiritual adultery! Even modern Israel, now under divine chastening remains and will be restored and redeemed yet again in the future.

Let us not forget Jesus Christ…

2^nd Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

True love is divine! Jesus not only demonstrates what true love looks like, He enables us to love others in this way when we yield to His word and Spirit in us.

How is your love toward others?

**Comments/ questions/ testimonies/ objections most encouraged!

Dear Lord, thank you for this time to consider Your word and Your ways. May our thoughts, words, and deeds bring You glory… and glory to You alone. –Amen

Peace,
Jim